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For the rest of the afternoon, I deal with spreadsheets, receipts, and customers. I’m nonstop busy, which keeps my mind occupied. Once the shop closes for the day, I’m ready to go home and take a bath, then enjoy a movie on the couch. Just as I’m about to lock the front door, Robert rushes past the large windows wearing a scowl. Seconds later, he’s pushing himself past me and staring with a menacing grin.
“Gemma, sweetheart.” He leans forward, trying to kiss me, but I take a step back, nearly tripping over myself.
“What’re you doing here?” I hiss, confused. I thought I wasextremelyclear in my text messages that he needed to fuck off.
His lips turn up farther. “I’m here to pick you up for dinner. I told you I’d be here earlier. Didn’t you get my messages?”
“I’mnotgoing. You need to leave,” I grit out, placing my hand on my hip, ready to scream and hope my dad or Tyler hears me.
Robert moves toward me, but I step back, keeping my distance until I’m pressed against the counter.
“Are you trying to make me look bad?” he snaps, his face flushing with the same anger I saw at his house.
I cross my arms over my chest, not cowering to his stance although his large frame looms over me. “What don’t you understand, Robert? We aredone. Over! You need to leave before my dad sees you here,” I warn.
He sneers and rolls his eyes as if he’s not concerned because he’s not. “Victoria specifically requested webothbe there. You know I’m trying to sign this fucking deal. Do you want me to lose one of the biggest contracts of my life over your selfishness?”
I shrug. “Your business dinners and your clients are no longer my concern.”
Reaching out, he grabs my arm firmly, not caring if he’s hurting me or not, and he yanks me closer. “You’re being such a self-centered bitch!” he shouts.
Before I can open my mouth to scream, Tyler rushes through the door and moves toward Robert with his chest puffed out.
“Don’t you fucking talk to her that way,” Tyler barks, and instead of Robert letting me go, he only holds me tighter. Seconds later, Tyler’s in his face and pulling me away from Robert’s grasp. My arm throbs where he grasped me, and I’m sure it’ll bruise.
“You touch her again, and I’ll fucking make youwishyou were dead,” Tyler warns. “You need to go.”
Robert scoffs. “Is this how convicts threaten people? Pathetic. Come on, Gemma. We’re leaving.” He snaps his fingers at me as if I’ll just follow his command. “Now!”
Tyler crosses his arms over his broad chest and stares him down. I notice how uncomfortable Robert becomes, and he even takes a few steps away from us.
“Weare leaving,” he seethes.
“You really are a dumb fuck, aren’t you? She’s not going anywhere with you,” Tyler tells him. “And if you lay a hand on her again…”
As if things couldn’t get any worse, my dad enters and looks back and forth between us. Dread coats me like ice cold water in winter.
“What’s goin’ on here?” he asks.
Robert instantly snaps on a smile, and I follow his lead. He clears his throat, changing his persona, and speaks. “I was just picking Gemma up for an important dinner, sir. We were just leaving.”
Robert holds his hand out and waits for me to take it.
I’m livid and need to figure a way out of this. Then a thought comes to me.
“Yep, and Robert just asked Tyler if he’d like to join us,” I add with a wide smile.
Robert’s grin slightly falters, but he slaps it right back on. My dad doesn’t notice at all, but Tyler’s face contorts as if I’ve lost my damn mind. Maybe I have.
“Son, I think that’s a great idea for you to go with them. Might be fun,” Dad suggests, patting Tyler on the shoulder. Tyler’s actually at a loss for words, and for the most part, so is Robert.
“That’s really nice of you, Robert. I always knew you were a good guy,” Dad continues, and I want to groan, but I hold it back. “So are you going?” he asks Tyler.
“Tyler said he didn’t want to go,” Robert declares.
“But we’re trying to convince him to come because the food is amazing. Plus, we’re meeting one of Robert’s clients, so it should be a fun time,” I squeal, acting excited. I won’t let Robert get out of this that easy.
Robert’s nostrils flare. If he wasn’t so concerned with impressing every Tom, Dick, and Harry, this wouldn’t be an issue, but I know his weaknesses and will use them against him. I just hate that he has my dad believing he’s a goddamn saint when he’s the devil in disguise.
